Legrottaglie extends Juventus deal

Nicola Legrottaglie has extended his contract with UEFA Champions League contenders Juventus by one year, taking him to 2011, on the day he learnt that he will be out of action for around three weeks with a thigh injury.

International call
The defender made his name at AC Chievo Verona before joining Juventus in 2003 but, after a difficult first season, was loaned to Bologna FC and AC Siena. He returned to Turin in the summer of 2006 and had a great 2007/08 season when he played 33 Serie A games, scoring twice. His consistent displays recently earned him a call-up from Marcello Lippi to the Italian national team for the FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign and he played the full 90 minutes in last month's 2-0 victory over Georgia.

'Immense joy'
Legrottaglie, who has nine caps, said: "Wearing this shirt is an immense joy for me." The 31-year-old, who suffered his right-thigh injury in the 2-2 draw at FC BATE Borisov in their UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday is a doubt for their next Group H game against Real Madrid CF on 21 October. The Bianconeri are second in the section with four points from two matches.